Gabrielle Kearns

Megan Forester

Divine Nurse

Rickelle Roach

Najee Williams

Discussion Questions

Week Ten

Authentic Leadership

Cases in Leadership – Chapter 9: Authentic Leadership

Rickelle Roach

According to the textbook authentic leadership is a style which results in both greater self-awareness and self-regulated positive behaviors on the part of leaders and associates. Luthans and Avolio were the first to define authentic leadership in 2003. Since then there have been various definitions from different perspectives.

Give an example of an authentic leader, intrapersonal leader, interpersonal leader, and developmental leader and describe the differences in how their leadership helped their followers to achieve their goals.

Do you or do you not agree that relational transparency is necessary to form a healthy leader and follower balance? Why? Why not? Feel free to give an example.

Case 9.1 ING Direct Canada: Are You Suffering?

Gabrielle Kearns

ING’s Ad Campaign aired an ad that proved to be controversial to a large amount of the audience, but some found it engaging. Negative comments swarmed in, calling the ad “cheesy and cheap”, insensitive, lacking intelligence, and mockery against those struggling with mental illness. Amongst the negative feedback, there were some that were supportive of the controversial ad. A commenter even said that if you are not offending someone, you are most likely not engaging anyone either.

Do you agree with the commenter? If you were in ING’s position, would you have done anything differently to prevent the backlash from happening, or would you have left it the way it was?

Later in the case, under the section titled “Similar Missteps”, we learn about various other companies that make light of dark matters such as racism, kidnapping, and suicide. These are very sensitive topics and companies are using them to what they think, their advantage.

What was your reaction to these specific ads? Was there one that shocked you the most and why? Finally, do you think social media is becoming detrimental to companies trying to “engage” by creating these controversial ads?

Divine Nurse

Continuing 9.1 Case Study: ING Direct Canada Are you Suffering?

The ad campaign for ING’s retirement savings plans was based on survey data that revealed the high level of stress and anxiety Canadians feel when it comes to their money and money matter.

How do you think Canadians cope with their feelings? Would you be stressed as well if it all came down to your personal money?

In the Fallout section of this case, many applauded ING for taking full responsibility for the ads and putting them together in a timely fashion, although the spots may be there for a while because they were posted online. Facebook posts and Twitter tweets were totalled fewer than 100 each over the period of time.

Why do you think fewer posts were being made? The ads were causing some confusion to some and not being able to express their feelings as they should. What could have been done differently instead of continuing to promote them?

Case 9.2 The Awethu Project: Values-Driven Decisions For Profit and Social Impact

Najee Williams

This case study describes the growth of Arethu as a company and the amount of faith the founder had in his idea.

How do you think Randera-Rees’ faith in the company was able to contribute to its success? What traits does he represent that you believe contributed to its success?

What do you believe investing your own money in a company represents? Why do you think even with Arethu’s success that it was difficult to attract investors?

Megan Forester

In chapter 9, Randera-Rees and Le Blancs company, Awethu, was breaking through with new and coming things. Though they were developing they still had some concerns.

Considering the worsening of the socioeconomic environment.

What are some ways that they can continue to grow the company to the next level? Could a new partnership benefit them during this time?

In the article “deepening Awethu’s Roots,” it was discussed that Awethu’s aim was to recruit people who didn’t want to do things for themselves, but wanted to do things to better their country. The company's four core values are: Entrepreneurship, starting things, growing things, and making money.

Do you agree with the company and their main four core values? Can this lead to results in success and why?